Credit Sesame Reviews
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About Credit Sesame Reviews
Credit Sesame offers free credit monitoring services on its website and mobile app, which is available for iOS and Android. No credit card is required, and it does not impact your credit score. Members receive a free credit check and credit score update every month from the TransUnion credit reporting bureau.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Premium plans available
- No credit card required
- Free monthly credit score
- Mobile app
Cons
- Add-ons require monthly subscription
- Only TransUnion credit score is free
Bottom Line
Credit Sesame offers a lot of tools and credit information for free. It has three premium membership plans for information from all three credit reporting bureaus. The free plan only includes a TransUnion credit report.
Featured Reviews
I have used Credit Sesame for 3+ years and find it to be a great resource for viewing, tracking and improving my credit. Website is easy to use. Viewing my credit score improving ...
Read full reviewIn the time I've been using Credit Sesame, which has been roughly a year or so, I've been able to restore my credit from Poor to Excellent by following the advice provided based o...
Read full reviewWhat is Credit Sesame?
Credit Sesame gives you a snapshot of your financial health by analyzing information in your credit report. You can see what’s impacting your score and receive tips on how to improve it. Credit Sesame also gives personalized recommendations on how to save money on car loans, student loans, credit cards and mortgages.
To sign up for a Credit Sesame membership, you must provide your:
- Email address
- Full legal name
- Date of birth
- Address
- Phone number
- Last four digits of your Social Security number
Credit Sesame offers four membership plans: Free, Advanced Credit, Pro Credit and Platinum Protection. All plans include a personalized credit report card that analyzes your credit history and tells you what’s affecting your score and how you can improve it. The company also provides savings recommendations for loans, credit cards and home mortgages by comparing offers and finding the best interest rates.
Membership plans also include a tracking tool for homeowners that provides updates on your home’s estimated value and the amount of equity you have in your home.
Credit Sesame banking services
In addition to credit monitoring services, Credit Sesame also offers free digital banking, which includes a no-fee bank account and a debit card. With Sesame Cash rewards, members earn cash rewards when their credit score increases.
Sesame Cash doesn’t have monthly service fees, a minimum balance requirement or foreign transaction fees. Members can withdraw cash for free at more than 55,000 ATMs worldwide.
Members get their paycheck up to two days early, with no fees or interest, when they connect their payroll to their Sesame Cash bank account.
Credit Sesame cost
A basic Credit Sesame membership is free and does not require a credit card. The free membership includes a monthly credit score update from TransUnion and credit monitoring.
If you want more frequent score updates or your credit scores from all three credit bureaus, you can upgrade your membership to a premium plan starting at $9.95 a month. You can pay each month or receive a discount by paying for the year in full. Prices for premium plans are below.
Plan | Monthly cost |
---|---|
Basic | $0 |
Advanced Credit | $9.95 |
Pro Credit | $15.95 |
Platinum Protection | $19.95 |
Credit Sesame FAQ
Is Credit Sesame safe?
Yes. Credit Sesame uses Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology and 128-bit encryption to protect data. The company also monitors its networks 24/7 and uses firewalls. These are the same security measures banks and the government uses to protect information.
Is Credit Sesame free?
Yes, basic membership is free. The free membership includes a monthly credit score update from TransUnion and credit monitoring. You have the option to upgrade to a premium plan starting at $9.95 a month to receive monthly credit score updates from all three credit bureaus — TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax — and other features, such as daily credit score updates from TransUnion and monthly full credit reports from all three bureaus.
How often does Credit Sesame update your credit score?
With a free membership, Credit Sesame updates your TransUnion VantageScore 3.0 credit score every month. With a premium plan, it updates your TransUnion credit score daily and your credit scores from other credit bureaus monthly.
How is Credit Sesame different from credit repair services?
Credit Sesame provides you with the tools and information you need to improve your credit so you can then go make those changes yourself. With a credit repair service, you work with someone one-on-one to improve your credit.
Is Credit Sesame legit?
Anyone can benefit from being a Credit Sesame member. Credit Sesame provides tons of free financial tools and reports to help members better understand their financial health and how to improve it. Using Credit Sesame is safe — it doesn’t hurt your credit score and does not require a credit card for its free membership option. Credit Sesame can help you save money on your credit card debt or loans by finding offers with lower interests.
Credit Sesame Reviews
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Reviewed July 18, 2023
I had a prepaid Sesame cash card with Credit Sesame in which I THOUGHT I could load the card with funds as needed in order to use. Needless to say I never used the card however, Sesame Cash allowed another Company to make transactions off of the card knowing that is was a prepaid card with NO funds on the card. By them allowing this to happen, Credit Sesame Cash put a negative balance on my account and refused to fix the problem after I had found out about it. They also refused to close my account due to fraudulent activity after I sent them notice in writing to do so.
Customer Service Agents were horrible and disrespectful and unknowledgeable. NO help was given. I felt stuck doing business with these crooks. Do not do business with this scam company. Finally, after I had to make numerous phone calls to Sesame cash and the other company and putting in the leg work to resolve the issue Sesame Cash finally closed the account. I will never do business with them again nor would I ever recommend them to anyone. Please do business with a real bank.
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Reviewed June 28, 2023
I have had Credit Sesame for 3 years. They offered a free credit account with card. Last month they pulled a fast one and started free for this account. Not bad I'll just close my account, but one problem. You can only contact them through their computer support. So far I have not found a way to contact a human. I have followed the process to close my account and they didn't closed it and charge my account a fee and gave me a negative balance. Like I said I have not found a way to contact human beings with Credit Sesame. Watch Out!!
Reviewed June 19, 2023
I signed into my account to add funds and found there were some missing. Upon investigating, I found that Credit Sesame decided to change their policies. I have been calling, trying to chat, and reach a human being to resolve the issue. There is no appropriate customer service, and when you e-mail them they respond with articles for you to read. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE WHEN YOU ARE DEALING WITH OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY!!!!
How are you calling yourself a company with no contact number with a live agent? When you sign up you give your contact information and yet somehow they have not texted or e-mailed me or even called with a warning of new fees being implemented. The claims of credit building is false. They send you credit card matches and then when you apply, you get denied and your credit score drops. When you click on dispute help you can't get any if you aren't PAYING for premium. These are unacceptable business practices. This "company" will cause you unnecessary stress and loss. I want my funds returned and my account closed. Company Statement: "Credit Sesame is 100% free. There are no trial periods, catches, gimmicks or fine print, and we'll never ask for your credit card information or bill you by surprise."
Reviewed May 27, 2023
WARNING: Credit Sesame is the WORST credit builder company in existence. In sum, they care more about their PROFITS than actually helping people build their credit. Here's why: So I was in financial ruin (owed too much credit card debt, thousands in medical bills, multiple lawsuits, and eventually becoming bankrupt) so I needed to get back on my feet and fix my financial life.
I thought the Credit Sesame Cash card was the perfect card for me in order to get me back up and improve my credit score because it was affordable (free to apply and no annual or monthly fees), it didn't require good credit score in order to get accepted, and, most importantly, help build your credit by providing you with the credit line you need in order to use it (which helps build your credit history), pay it back on time (which helps build your trustworthiness and financial responsibility), slowly increase your credit limit (which increases your credit score), and last but not least grow your credit age by keeping your credit account OPEN. Unfortunately, last week (5/19/23), after growing my credit for almost two years, Credit Sesame sent me this email:
"As a valued Sesame Cash account holder, we want to give you advance notice of new account fees* effective June 15, 2023 or after.
The new fee structure is designed to ensure active users can still enjoy free banking services. Account holders who make a direct deposit of at least $500 or spend more than $1,000 during each monthly billing period continue to benefit from no monthly or inactivity fees.
Account holders making a direct deposit under $500 or spending under $1,000 during each monthly billing period are charged a monthly fee of $9.99.
Account holders with no money movement in or out of their accounts pay the monthly fee plus $3.00 for every 30 days of inactivity.
Thank you for being a loyal supporter of Sesame Cash. We look forward to sharing new features and benefits with you in the near future.
By continuing to utilize the services, you agree to the Sesame Cash Terms of Service and Sesame Cash Cardholder Agreement. If you do not wish to accept, you may choose to close your account."
Was that a bait and switch move? Bait me with free credit builder accounts and then, a few years later, switch it with the same accounts but with monthly fees and other rules to get your money. And if I don't accept, I should close my account, which holds my whole credit history since it's the only credit card I have. Consequently, You know what happens when you close your credit card account? Your credit score goes way down and you need to start your credit history all over again from scratch. This company doesn't care about your credit score and just wants to make extra money. Now it is going to take me two years to get back where left at. You know how hard it is to buy a home? To get a mortgage? To raise your credit to excellent in order to actually afford the mortgage?
They could have at least applied the new rule to NEW customers instead of the current ones since we didn't agree to monthly fees (I would have chosen another credit builder if that was the case). Unfortunately, due to Credit Sesame's greed and immoral business tactics, I need to close my account and toss my two-year credit history in the trash with it. That is how Credit Sesame treats their valued customers. Valued indeed.
Reviewed May 26, 2023
Impossible to close Sesame Cash account, so they can charge you $14 monthly fee for keeping Cash account open.
On May 26, 2023: When I call the phone number 1-877-751-1859, choose option 2 for my account, and choose option 4 for requesting a new Sesame Cash debit card, I was able to reach a Credit Sesame representative to close my Sesame Cash account. This is another scammy practice pulled by Credit Sesame because if I call the same phone number above, choose option 2 for my account, and then choose option 5 for account closure, the virtual phone assistance will literally tell me to go to the support page to submit an account closure form, and if I fill out that account closure form on their website, they would never respond and my Sesame Cash account would never be closed, and I would be charged $14 monthly fee for keeping the Sesame Cash account open.
Anyways, for anyone has issues reaching Credit Sesame representatives to close the Sesame Cash account, make sure to call the phone number 1-877-751-1859, choose option 2 for your account, and choose option 4 for requesting a new Sesame Cash debit card to reach a Credit Sesame representative to close your Cash account. If you choose option 5 for account closure, the virtual phone assistance will not let you reach a representative and keeps telling you to fill out an account closure form on their support website, which they will never respond and will keep your Cash account open, and they will force you to pay the $14 monthly fee for keeping the Cash account open.
Reviewed Dec. 30, 2022
Someone stole my credit card. Sent $100 through cash app. I was told I was liable for the charges because the thief used the card and had the CVV. You steal the card you have the CVV on it. Beware. Don't leave any extra money on your card.,..Unreliable.
Reviewed Sept. 8, 2022
2. Chase I think it's
3. United One mortgage processing it's a mistake. I don't want a mortgage through them (delete and deactivate my account if possible).
4. Credit Bureau mortgage processing. I don't want mortgage through them (delete and deactivate my account if possible).
Not refreshed. Be careful out there especially these you never know with anyone especially when comes to privacies related (we all need to respect each other privacies and knows from right from wrong and so on) if knows what I'm saying. Very scared and nervous and worried about this especially with people these days.
Reviewed April 29, 2022
Emails, 4-5 times a day telling me to apply for credit cards I don't get. Tried 3, none worked. But hey, email me the same stuff over and over and over 3-5 times a day. Just spam and more spam and more spam. I HATE THIS SERVICE.
Reviewed April 5, 2022
Signed up to get a FREE Credit report - Not from Credit Sesame - They CHARGE a monthly fee AND they DROPPED MY CREDIT SCORE 50 POINTS!!! DON'T use them or you WILL be SORRY... Went there to review my Credit and improve it... NOW I have to raise it BACK UP as they dropped it 50 points... Did NOT get my CREDIT REPORT either for free... SCAM!!!
Reviewed Feb. 15, 2022
Beware! Deposited $750 into a credit builder account, as a security deposit. Since I was not seeing any benefit from it, decided to withdraw it and close the account. There is no way to get your money back through the app or website. The app tells you to go to the website and the website has no way to withdraw. I called them and they said they could not withdraw it, but I had to send an email. I requested to speak to a manager and they said none was available, but someone would call me back (no one called back). I sent the email as instructed, and received a bot reply about their office address having moved. I submitted a complaint to the BBB and a fraud report to the FTC. This company will gladly take your money, but has no way for you to get your own money back, and then ghost you when you contact them.
Credit Sesame Company Information
- Company Name:
- Credit Sesame
- Company Type:
- Private
- Year Founded:
- 2010
- Formerly Named:
- Credit Sesame
- Address:
- 444 Castro Street, Suite 500
- City:
- Mountain View
- State/Province:
- CA
- Postal Code:
- 94041
- Country:
- United States
- Website:
- www.creditsesame.com